1. © 2010 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved Confidence Intervals for the Population Proportion

2. 9-2 A confidence interval for an unknown parameter consists of an interval or range of numbers. The level of confidence represents the expected proportion of intervals that will contain the parameter if a large number of different samples is obtained. The level of confidence is denoted (1-  )·100%.

3. 9-3 For example, a 95% level of confidence (  =0.05) implies that if 100 different confidence intervals are constructed, each based on a different sample from the same population, we will expect 95 of the intervals to contain the parameter and 5 to not include the parameter.

4. 9-4 In general confidence interval estimates for the population parameter of interest are of the form Point estimate ± margin of error. The margin of error of a confidence interval estimate of a parameter is a measure of how accurate the point estimate is.

5. 9-5 A point estimate is an unbiased estimator of the parameter. The point estimate for the population proportion is where x is the number of individuals in the sample with the specified characteristic and n is the sample size.

6. 9-6 In July of 2008, a Quinnipiac University Poll asked 1783 registered voters nationwide whether they favored or opposed the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. 1123 were in favor. Obtain a point estimate for the proportion of registered voters nationwide who are in favor of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. Parallel Example 1: Calculating a Point Estimate for the Population Proportion

7. 9-7 Obtain a point estimate for the proportion of registered voters nationwide who are in favor of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. Solution

8. 9-8 The margin of error depends on two factors: 1. Level of confidence: As the level of confidence increases, the margin of error also increases. 2. Standard error of the proportion: As the error increases for our estimate, the width of the interval will increase.

9. 9-9 For a simple random sample of size n, the sampling distribution of is approximately normal with mean and standard deviation, provided that np(1-p) ≥ 10. NOTE: We also require that each trial be independent when sampling from finite populations. Sampling Distribution of

10. 9-10 Suppose that a simple random sample of size n is taken from a population. A (1-  )·100% confidence interval for p is given by the following quantities Lower bound: Upper bound: Note: It must be the case that and n ≤ 0.05N to construct this interval. Constructing a (1-  )·100% Confidence Interval for a Population Proportion

11. 9-11 In July of 2008, a Quinnipiac University Poll asked 1783 registered voters nationwide whether they favored or opposed the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. 1123 were in favor. Obtain a 90% confidence interval for the proportion of registered voters nationwide who are in favor of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder. Parallel Example 2: Constructing a Confidence Interval for a Population Proportion

12. 9-12 and the sample size is definitely less than 5% of the population size  =0.10 so z  /2 =z 0.05 =1.645 Lower bound: Upper bound: Solution

13. 9-13 Solution We are 90% confident that the proportion of registered voters who are in favor of the death penalty for those convicted of murder is between 0.61and 0.65.

14. 9-14 Sample size needed for a specified margin of error, E, and level of confidence (1-  ): Problem: The formula uses which depends on n, the quantity we are trying to determine!

15. 9-15 Two possible solutions: 1.Use an estimate of p based on a pilot study or an earlier study. 2.Let =0.5 which gives the largest possible value of n for a given level of confidence and a given margin of error.

16. 9-16 The sample size required to obtain a (1-  )·100% confidence interval for p with a margin of error E is given by (rounded up to the next integer), where is a prior estimate of p. If a prior estimate of p is unavailable, the sample size required is

17. 9-17 A sociologist wanted to determine the percentage of residents of America that only speak English at home. What size sample should be obtained if she wishes her estimate to be within 3 percentage points with 90% confidence assuming she uses the 2000 estimate obtained from the Census 2000 Supplementary Survey of 82.4%? Parallel Example 4: Determining Sample Size

18. 9-18 E=0.03 We round this value up to 437. The sociologist must survey 437 randomly selected American residents. Solution